CPI in April 2006

On a seasonally adjusted basis, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) advanced 0.6 percent in April, following a 0.4-percent rise in March.

[Chart data—TXT]

Energy costs, which increased 1.3 percent in March, advanced 3.9 percent in April. Within energy, the index for petroleum based energy increased 8.5 percent, while the index for energy services fell 1.5 percent.

The food index was unchanged in April, as a 0.2-percent decline in the index for food at home was offset by a 0.2-percent increase in the index for food away from home. The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.3 percent in April, the same as in March; the index for shelter accounted for about one-half of the April increase with the indexes for apparel, for medical care, and for education and communication each accounting for about 10 percent of the April advance.

During the first four months of 2006, the CPI-U rose at a 5.1-percent seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). This compares with an increase of 3.4 percent for all of 2005.

For the 12 months ended in April 2006, the CPI-U rose 3.5 percent, as shown in the chart.

These data are from the BLS Consumer Price Index program. To learn more, see "Consumer Price Index: April 2006" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 06-854.